Water heater



June 1 192., 1,587,100

W, WILLETT WATER HEATER Filed Jail 2, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l June 1,1926- 1,587,100

W. WILLETT WATER HEATER Filed Jan. 2, 1926 2 sheets-sheet 2 bal/wlw? pipe.

Patented .lune 1, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT -FFItE.

WILLIAM WILLETT, or ronon'ro, curante, CANADA.

Application led January My invention relates to improvements in water heaters, and relates more particularly to water heaters in which gas is the fuel, and the principal object of the invention is to provide improved means whereby the iame is caused to directly play against the water coil substantially throughout its entire height, thereby facilitating the heating of the water. Another object of the invention is to construct the burner in a novel manner whereby the above-noted effect is produced, and to permit of ease of' replacement in case of repairs, and in the following specification and the drawings forming part thereof, I shall describe and illustrate my preferred form of invention, and what I claim as new will be set forth in the claims forming part of thisspecification. n

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my water heater showing the door open, and showing the water coil in vertical section. Fig. 2 is a view substantially the same as 1, but at right angles thereto, on an enlarged scale, showing certain of the parts in section t o illustrate preferred construction. Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross section on the line 3 3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a horizontal cross section on the line 4-4, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the gas burner, the lower portion being broken away. Fig. 6 is a horizontal cross section on the line 6 6, Fig. 5, and Fig. 7 is a perspective view of portion of the spreading means located adjacent the burner. f

In the drawings, like characters of reference refer to the same parts.v

2 is any suitable casing, and the same is provided with a cover 3 having any suitable fume pipe l. 5 is the bottom of the casing, and through this bottom extends the burner 7, the lower end of which is threaded into a member 6 which forms part of the gas feed 9 are jam nuts mounted on the threaded portion of the burner 7, one above and the other below the bottom 5, and by means of which this burner is removably held in place. The burner 7 is tubular in form, and is provided at intervals with rows of holes 10 through which the gas escapes. 11 is a removable cap closing the upper end of the burner 7. `This cap is apertured as shown at 12, and has threaded connection with the burner 7, particularly for the pui WATER HEATER.

2, 1.926. Serial No. 78,823.

pose of permitting the 'spreading means (hereinafter particularly referred to) to be placed on the burner.

13 is the water coil, and the intake end 14: thereof is supported in any suitable manner in the casing 2. The upper end 15 of said water' coil is tapped into the water chamw ber 16 located at the top of the water heater. This water chamber is provided with a nipple 17 and stops 18 carried by said nipple, which stops come in Contact with the inner side of the casing 2. The outer end of this nipple is threaded torecelve a jam nut 19. Bv means of this nut,

as well as the stops 18,the nipple 17 isv `given the desired support in the casing 2, thereby supporting the water chamber 16 and the upper end of the water coil 13.

Ordinarily in water heaters of this class the gas burner is in the form of a ring` and is located at the bottomof the water coil. and the heat generated by the gas will be more intense in the location of the lower part of the water coil than inthe portions f burning gas to come directly into contact with the convolutions of the water simultaneously throughout its height.

As before-mentioned, the burner 7 is provided with a plurality of rows ofholes. These rows are in vertical disposition, and are spaced apart. Now in order to insure that the flame of burning gas play directly against' the convolutions of the 'water coil 13 substantially throughout its height, spreading plates 2O are supported above each of the holes 10, in such manner that these plates project equidistantly beyond each side of the said holes, as shown very clearly in Fig. 6." The flame of burning gas underneath each spreading plate is compelled to play against a portion of the water coil, and as these flames play against the said coil water coil throughout its height, the water in the upper portion of the water coil, for example, is being subjected. to a temperature for all practical purposes substantially equal to that to which the water is subjected in the lower portion of the water coil; and therefore it is self-evident that considerable saving in time is effected in raising the temperature of the water to the required degree. j

'Ihe spreading plates 20 it will be observed particularly7 from Figs. 6 and 7, preferably widen from their inner ends to the outer ends, thus insuring that the flame of burning gas be laterally well spread.

The said spreading plates may be supported by any suitable means which will permit of replacement. The preferred construction consists in integrally forming these spreading plates at each side of the burner, with bars 2l, as by casting. These bars are integrally provided at each end with rings 22 and Q3, which rings are mounted on the burner 7, and passing through the lower ring 23 are set screws 24 which permit the spreading means to be held in position on the said burner.

The bars 21 are spaced apart from the burner 7, and consequently heated air is permitted to flow upwardly around this burner, and thus promote combustion.

As will be seen clearly upon referring to Figs and 6, the bars 2l are located opposite imperforate portions of the burner 7 so as not to interfere with the escape of gasthrough the holes 10. Therefore in order to firmly support the spreading plates in the position before described, in respect of the holes 10 and not interfere with the escape of gas through these holes, each spreading plate 2O is connected at its upper side with its respective bar by a web Q5. which lie substantially in the sa'me plane as the said bars. This construction, or its equivalent. necessarily locates each spreading plate 2O laterally of its associated bar 21. and in the desired position in respect of the holes or openings 10.

Since the cap 11 is removable, when occasion arises, the bars 21 with their spreading plates 2O may be readily removed from the burner 7, after the set screws 24 have been retracted.

From what has been set forth in this specification, and illustrated in the drawings, it is self-evident that various parts of my burner may be taken apart with comparatively little trouble, to effect repairs or for other purposes.

Although it forms no part of my invention to which I lay claim, in case it be desired to heat a small amount of water, the

. heater may be provided with a burner 28 in the form of a ring, which burner may be supported by feet 29 from the bottom 5. By means of the gas connections 29, gas is diverted from the main gas supply to feed the burner 28.

Since the water coil I use is preferably circular in form, I therefore prefer to use "l the bars 2l, and locate these at diametrically opposed sides of the burner 7.

According to the construction particularly clearly illustrated in Fig. 5, the spreading plates 2O project alternately from the opposite sides of the bars 21, and therefore there is sufficient space between the vertically aligned spreading plates 20 to permit of proper combustion.

While I have described what I consider to be the preferred embodiment of my invention, it must be understood that I do not confine myself to the details of construction illustrated and described.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a water heater, in combination a tubular vertically-disposed burner provided with a plurality of longitudinally disposed rows of holes, each row being spaced apart from the adjacent rows; a spreading plate located above each of the said holes for the purpose of causing the burning gas to be horizontally spread; a bardisposed longitudinally of said burner and located opposite an imperforate wall thereof between given pairs of rows of holes, and acting as a support for said spreading plates, which plates project alternately from opposite sides of said bar, and means whereby said bar is held in spaced relation tov said burner and removable in relation thereto.

2. In a water heater, in combination a tubular vertically-disposed burner provided with a plurality of longitudinally disposed rows of holes, each row being spaced apart from the adjacent rows; a pair of bars disposed longitudinally of said burner in spaced relation thereto and on opposite sides thereof, and each located opposite an imperforate wall thereof between given pairs of rows of holes; a ring integrally formed `with each of the said bars at each end thereof, and embracing said burner; means whereby the lowermost ring is removably coupled to said burner; a spreading plate located above each of k'the said holes, and each projecting alternately from opposite sides of its associated bar, and webs inte- `ngi-ally forming part of said bars whereby the said spreading plates are coupled thereto laterally thereof and in the desired position in respect of the said holes.

3. In a water heater, in combination a tubular vertically-disposed burner provided with a plurality of longitudinally disposed rows of holes, each row being spaced apart from the adjacent rows; a pair of bars disposed longitudinally of said burner in spaced relation thereto and on opposite sides thereof, and each located opposite an im- Slt perforate wall thereof between given pairs sides of its associated bar; webs integrally of rows of holes; a ring integrally formed forming part of said bars whereby the said 10 with each of the said bars at each end therespreading plates are coupled f thereto latof, and embracing said burner; means erally thereof and in the desired position whereby the lowernlost ring is removably in respect of the said holes. and a removable' coupled to said burner; a spreading plate apertured cap carried by the upper end of located above each of the said holes, and said burner.

each projecting alternately from opposite WILLIAM VVILLETT. 

